Storage Virtualization Take Off and Other Predictions for 2015

Virtualization remains a rapidly changing field, and 2014 was certainly no exception. Many companies from all over the world are giving virtualization a second look, even those that are a bit shy about adopting new technology. As we begin 2015, it’s time to take a look ahead and see what might be in store for virtualization. It’s one thing to predict changes; it’s another thing to see what impact those changes will have on the technology and the business community at large.

Virtualization remains a rapidly changing field, and 2014 was certainly no exception. Many companies from all over the world are giving virtualization a second look, even those that are a bit shy about adopting new technology. As we begin 2015, it’s time to take a look ahead and see what might be in store for virtualization. It’s one thing to predict changes; it’s another thing to see what impact those changes will have on the technology and the business community at large. A quick peek at what 2015 has to offer reveals some intriguing possibilities for virtualization software and the data center, but we’ll have to wait and see if these predictions come true.

Perhaps the area those within the industry will want to pay the closest attention to is that of storage virtualization. It’s no secret that storage virtualization has caught the eye of organizations around the world, mainly because of the numerous benefits it can provide. Storage virtualization allows for the harnessing of several storage devices to create a virtualized image of a larger device. This not only creates more storage for enterprises and institutions to use, it improves overall reliability and makes for greater control over the data stored there. Also significant is the added agility storage virtualization can grant to businesses since the difference between storing files on- or off-premise is minimal.

These benefits mean storage virtualization will likely take off to even greater heights among businesses in 2015. The main goal behind storage virtualization is to make storage easier to manage, which has lead to more companies adopting the technology. This is especially important in the age of big data. More and more organizations are generating, collecting, and analyzing vast amount of data, and storage virtualization via the cloud allows the same physical space to be accessed by multiple users. It’s an easier and more efficient way to use storage, especially with all-flash arrays becoming a common sight.

But that’s just storage virtualization. Other types of virtualization will likely see more success during 2015 as well. Take network virtualization, for example. While network virtualization has been discussed in IT circles for many years, 2015 may be the year where it finally becomes reality at a wide variety of companies. It makes sense why organizations would seek out network virtualization due to its ability to address the bottlenecks present in workload provisioning. In fact, it is the greater agility and automation offered by network virtualization that is enticing to so many different businesses working to bring new services online. Under normal circumstances, companies might take anywhere from two to eight weeks to get a service up and running. Network virtualization can speed this process up dramatically, even to the point where services can be fully functional in less than a day. Add in the boost network virtualization can give to network security, and adopting the technology looks like a home run for 2015.

Another trend companies will want to keep an eye on is the mainstream acceptance of virtualization in general. Of course many IT insiders have talked about the virtues of virtualization for some time now, but experts are predicting that the technology will finally be recognized for its usefulness among those who may not be as in tune with the technological world. Business leaders will see how virtualization can positively impact their companies’ bottom line through easy-to-understand consumer use cases. First and foremost will be its help in making bring your own device (BYOD) a reality by providing companies with a more flexible and personal approach. The improved security that comes from virtualization will also encourage more business leaders to adopt BYOD. Virtualization also helps companies deliver their business solutions much faster and cheaper than before. With these factors in play, it’s easy to see why companies would want to invest in virtualization in the coming year.

The future looks bright for virtualization. With the ways the technology improves productivity and makes companies more agile, the value behind virtualization will be something businesses won’t be able to turn away from. For the enterprising employee there are even virtualiztion online training courses you can take to sharpen your skills. Virtualization can affect nearly every aspect of a business, most often for the better. As long as an organization has the personnel to understand and effectively deploy it, the benefits from virtualization will continue paying dividends in 2015 and many years beyond that.